Bed structure for automobiles



H. SAWYER.

BED STRUCTURE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16. 1919.

1,370,672. Patented Mar. 8, 1921.

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A TTORNE YS A TTORNE YS H. SAWYER.

BED STRUCTURE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT= 16, 1919. 1,370,672.

WITNESS S .CLM

H. SAWYER.

BED STRUCTURE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.16|1919.

Patented Mar. 8,1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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WITNESS A TTORNE YS H. SAU/YER= BED STRUCTURE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I6, 1919.

Patented Mar. 8, 1921.

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WITNESS /Bmf WW1;

A TTORNEYS H. SAWYER.

BED STRUCTURE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16. 1919.

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WITNESS IN VEN TOR in 2 E s @m g B. f ff* i@ A TTORNE YS HUGHTON SAWYER, OF PIEDMONT, CALIFQRNIA.

BED STRUCTURE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 8, 1921i.

Application iled September 16, 1919. Serial No. 324,133.

To all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, HoUGHToN SAWYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Piedmont, in the county ot Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bed Structurest'or Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of bedstructures, especially adapted for automobiles, in which the body of the vehicle is originally formed with or later has attached thereto devices, iitting the machine for camping, touring and other outings, requiring extra comforts and conveniences, such, for example, as sleeping quarters, with their accessories, in the nature ot' wardrobes, tables, lockers, awnings, screens, etc.

One object of my invention isA toprovide convenient beds, either separately, or in connection with accessories comprising a unit structure, so arranged, hinged and balanced as to insure simple, positive and easy operation, while leaving the greater part ot' the floor area of the car free and unobstructed at all times.

A further obiect is to make these structures moisture and dust-proof, and to inclose them in such manner as to insure privacy and offer protection against insects and weather. A

A. still further object is to plan these structures as a unit, and so construct this unit that either one or more may be either permanently installed in a car specially designed to receive them, or may be arranged so as to be fitted to any truck, delivery or other type of car, and made easily removable for storage when not in use.

further object is to provide a simple and convenient means for inclosing the ground space at the sides of a car, to form a screen for extra cots, to insure their privacy and oier protection against insects and weather.

lVith these and other ends in view, my invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement, hereinafter fully described by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a cross sectional elevation of one side of the vehicle, showing the parts stowed, the movement of certain parts being shown by dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing` the parts extended for use.

Fig. 3 is 'a longitudinal vertical section of the bed structure, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4, and showing the twin-screen-centerguides in elevation.

F 4 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional elevation, enlarged, showing the awning and screen arrangement.

F ig. 6 is a horizontal section of a detail of the awning arm, and the screen pull-bar end in the canopy-post guide-slot.

Figs. 7 and 8 are details in elevation and bottom p lan respectively, showing the double hanging ot' the tWin-screen-centerguides.

Fig. 9 is an elevation ot' a portion of the exterior of a car showing the bed-tablewardrobe-unit in the same position as illustrated in Fig. 2, with the exception that the awning is stowed, the ground-inclosure curtain is omitted, and the twin-screens are partly pulled down and out anglewise' over the bed head and foot-boards, to show clearly their operation.

In Figs. 1 and 2, 1 indicates a wheel, 2 an axle, 3 a mudgnard, 4 the floor, and 5, Fig. 2, a fixed lower portion of the body of an automobile. Hinged at 6, Figs. 3, 4 and 9 to a xed portion of the body side, as, for example, the canopy posts 32, is a swinging member 7, the free end of which, as seen clearly in Figs. 1 and 2, carries the bed-box 8, of which 8 is the bottom, 9 is the inner rail, and 10 is the outer rail, the latter extending beyond the bottom as a portion 10 which, together with the swinging member 7 and the bed-box-bottom 8', form a recess or housing to contain the wardrobe-box 11, which is hinged to the swinging member 7 at 12, and has a fastening 13 in relation to a cleat 14 of the extension 10', Fig. 1. The

outer face ll of the wardrobe-box 11 is a panel of the automobile body, but its inner face is a hinged lid 11". 15 is a stay-hinge for the Wardrobe box, 15 its housed position. Hinged at 16 to the outer rail 10 of the bed-box is a table-leaf 17, with which the folding-brackets 18, Fig. 1 (the horizontal arms of which are permanently attached to and recessed flush with the upper face of rail 10 and 10') have their free arms adapted to support one face oi said tablelea, although not attached to it, while other folding-brackets 18 (the vertical arms of which are permanently attached to the bed head and foot frames) are similarly adapted to Support the opposite face of said tableleaf, although not attached to it, when in its extreme or horizontal position. Each position is shown by the' dotted lines in Fig. 1.

Folding-bracket 18 is designed to lock auto-d bottom 8 of the bed-box lies vertically in contact with the xed side portion of the body of the car, the inner rail 9 lying parallel with the ioor, but slightly above it to prevent rubbing. In this position the 'f unit structure may be locked by any suitable connection with the car frame, and this connection together with the bed pin-hinges 6, Fig. 9, support the entire unit, the bedbox 8 being vertical, the wardrobe box 11 standing upright beside the bed-box, and presentmg its panel 11 to view as part of the automobile body, and the table-leaf 17 lying flat upon the outer rail 10 of the bedbox. In this position the unit structure is slightly, compact, and takes up but little of the interior space of the vehicle.

The dotted lines in Fig. l, show the dropping of the wardrobe-box 11, and the lifting of its lid 11 in order to obtain access to the wardrobe-box; and dotted lines also show the lifting of the table-leaf 17 either through an arc of approximately 80 degrees as hereinbefore described, for a purpose presently to be shown, or through an arc of 180 degrees, to serve in conjunction with the outer rail of the bed-box, as a table, in which position it isL supported by the folding-bracket 18', also previously described. l

InFig. 2, the whole unit is shown turned outwardly about its pin-hinges at 6, Figs. 3, 4 and 9, So that the bed-box 8 is horizontal, the wardrobe-box 11 is confined in its housing under the bed-box, and the tableleaf 17, which is turned through its 80 degree arc and supported by the foldingbrackets 18, serves as a means from which to hang a screen-curtain 19, to inclose a space in which a cot 20 may be located on the ground beside the car. It is to be understood that there is one or more' of these' unit structures on each side of the car, but as the;7 are alike, a description in the singular suiiices.

In order to support the unit structure in its position when its bed member is brought into use, as in Fig. 2, and to counterbalance it for ease of operation, I attach to a xed body portion of the car, spring controlled winding drums, indicated atI 23. These may be located in Aany suitable portion of the body. I have here shown them as housed in lockers 21 with doors 22. From these lockers lines, cables, chains or steel ribbons, or a combination of these, 24, extend to the inner rail 9 of the bed-box 8. These lines, cables, Chains or ribbons will be suitably controlled so that the extreme play of the bed is limited to an arc of 90 degrees. When in a hori- Zontal position, the bed-unit structure is supported by the pin-hinges 6, Fig. 9, balanced and held by connections to` the spring controlled winding drums, and locked to the car frame.

Within the bed-box 8, Fig. 3, is the bottom webbing 25, the bed springs 26, and the mattress 27.

Hinged at 28, Figs. 42, 3 and 4, to the head-rail of the bed-box is the head-board 29, and hinged at 30 to the foot-rail of said bed-box is the foot-board 31.` These boards are seen best in Figs. 3 and 4, and are adapted to lie flat upon the bed surface, as in Fig. 4, when not in use, and to be raised at right angles thereto, as in Fig. 3, for use. As seen in Fig, 4, they are similar in shape, each having an outwardly sloping upper edge, and in width adapted to inclose that portion of the bed-box which extends beyond the side of the vehicle, as shown in Fig. 2.

The foot-board hinges 30 are of a nature shown in Fig. 4, which enables them to slide upon their pintles' so that the footboard may be shifted laterally, as seen by the dotted lines, in order to be moved to a position in which it may be folded down on the bed without interfering with the foldedv position of the head-board.

As the bed-box must necessarily have a length adapting it to pass between the uprights, or canopy-posts 32, of the canopy frame of the machine, it follows that the head and foot-boards when elevated will not reach said canopy-posts. In order to close in the remaining space Iprovide the inner edge of each board with a filling flap 33, which is connected to it by spring hinges at 34 as shown in Fig. 4, whereby it may be folded down on the board for storing, and thrown out for contact with the canopypost, its spring-hinges'4 34 holding it 1n place. as shown in Figs. 2` and 5, and by the dotted line 33-Fig. 4. l

In order to provide a barrier or guard for the outer side ofthe bed when inuse, and by the same means to provide a neat, attractive and efficient cover for the bed when not in use. I have hinged, at 16 Fig. 1, to the edge of the outer side rail 10 of the bedbox, a cover panel 35, preferably with a hinged section on hinges 35, to avoid undue height when elevated, and yet have width enough to cover the bed when folded. This cover panel when folded lies upon the folded head and foot-boards as seen in Fig. l. and in this position forms a. panel and sightly effect for the inner face of the unit structure when stowed. lVhen raised, as in Figs. 2 and 3, and its hinged section 35 folded back to lie parallel with the main section, it forms an outer guard or barrier of e'enerous height to prevent the occupant from rolling out, and to insure privacy.

This cover panel is held upright by the folding-brackets 1S', heretofore mentioned as serving also to hold the table leaf 17 in its functional position as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. l. Said folding-brackets are independent in action of both the table-leaf 17 and the bed-box cover panel 35, but the said panel 35 is not independent of the folding-brackets 1S. There are studs 3G, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 9, set at the ends of said panel which, when the panel is raised, engage one arm of the folding-brackets 1S, causing them to open and automatically rise with the panel until its action is arrested by the extreme 90 degree position of the brackets where it is held against further out-ward action. Moreover, when the head and footboards are raised into vertical positions, they `autfnnatically suitably lock with said panel 35 and prevent inward action. Thus both the said panel now serving as an outboard guard, and the head and foot-boards are held stationary.

Mounted under the eaves 37-Figs. 2 and 5, of the canopy roof 38, is the roll 39 of the awning 40. In the canopy-posts 32 are guide grooves 41, Figs 2 and 6, in which are fitted slidably the trunnions 42 of the awning arms 43. the sliding connection being held by a guide plate 44, Fig. G. There is one V awning arm in each canopy-post and between the upper face ends of these arms extends and is fastened the awning a'riu cross-bar 45, Fig. 5. The outer face of this cross-bar has studs 46. rl`he free end ofy the awning has a pull-bar 47, the inner face of which has sockets 48. Fig. 48', Figs. 2 and 6, are pivoted braces for the awning arms. s

'When the beds are in stowed position for traveling, the awnings may be left rolled up, or they may' be drawn down verticallyto inclose the car against Weather, and in this position they may be locked below to the table-leaf 17`of the bed structure unit. and buttoned at the sides of the canopy-posts.

llhen the car is to be kept open when at rest, yet shaded from the sun, or if it be desired to cover the extended beds at night as protection against weather, yet leaving the space above the beds free and open for the passage of air, the operation of the awnings to reach the position required for such purposes, as shown in Fig. 2, is as follows The pull-bar 47, Fig. 5, of the awning is drawn down, `until its sockets 48 can be fitted over the studs 46 of the crossbar 45. The cross-bar 45, Figs. 2 and 5. is now pulled out laterally and pushed down. This has the effect of throwing out sidewise, to a horizontal position, the awning arms 43, the inner and lower ends of which slide upwardly and turn on their trunnions 42 fitted inthe grooves 4l of the canopy-posts 32, and in this horizontal position the braces 48 securely hold them as in Fig. 2.

ln order to screen the ear when the bedstructurc unit is stowed or folded as in Fig. 1, and also to screen the bed when extended, as in Fig. 2, I have the following construction. Lying horizontally in a pocket 49, Figs. 2, 3. 5. 7 and 8, of the canopy-frame or beam. are twin-screen-center-guides 50.

Each of these guides is hinged at 51 to a' leaf 51 in common, which in turn is attached to the free leaf of a second hinge secured to the canopy-beam, but whose pintle 5l lies at right angles to the pintles of the hinges attached to the said guides- Figs. 7 and 8. rThe said guides are thus adapted to fall, when released. back to back, 4as seen in Figs. 3 and 9, swinging on their hinges 51 to occupy a vertical central position between the canopy-posts, and in this position are fastened at their lower ends to the top of the stowed bed unit. lt is necessary to have these center screen guides for the reason that a metal screen of greater width than about. one-half of the space between the canopy-posts is not practical.

52. Figs. l. 2. 5 and 9. are spring rollers for the screens housed in casing 54 secured to the canopy frame. rlhe screens 53 have pull-bars 55. Figs. 5 and G, by which they may be drawn down from the roll vertically beside the car guided by the .slots in the canopy-posts formed by the guide plates 32', Figs.A 6 and 9. and those in the vertically disposed twin-center-guides 50, and the lower ends fastened to the tableleaf of the bed-structure. The spring rollers 52 keep the screens taut over the openings when the screens are drawn down.

Now, in order to screen the extended beds atnight. the twin-center-guides 50 have, as seen in Figs. 7 and 8, a second hinge pintle 51". at right angles to the rst hinge pintle 51. as hereinbefore described, so that said guides, in addition to having the capacity A to be dropped down vertically. back to back, may also be turned outwardly, to an 1nclined position, as shown in Fig. 2, in which their lower free ends are adapted to hook over and fasten at 56 to the outboard-guard or panel 35 of the bed structure. Slots in `these twin-center-guides provide for carrying the adjacent screen pull-bar ends when the screens are pulled down outwardly over the extended beds, while the opposite screen pull-bar ends have been pushed outwardly through holes 55, Fig. 9, in the canopypost guide-plates 32 until the pull-bars 55 have assumed an angular position shown by the dotted lines, Fig. 5, when they may be drawn down anglewise over the inclined tops of the headboard 29 and the foot-board 31, their guide lugs 5 5', Figs. 5, 6 and 9, entering the head and foot-board guide-slots 57, Figs. 4 and 5. These guide-lugs 55 on the pull-bars are necessary in order to carry said bars and their screens clear over the head and foot-boards, for the reason that the widths of the pull-bars and' their screens are greater than the widths between the twin-center-guides and their companion head and foot-board guides. In other words, the distance between the twin-center-guides and the canopy-post-guides is greater than the distance between the twin-center-guides and the head and foot-board-guides.

I claim 1. In combination with a vehicle body, a bed-box associated therewith by a hinge connection adapting it to be turned to a vertical position inside of and extending above the side of said vehicle body, and to be turned to a horizontal position to lie across said side, and a member hinged to and completely covering said bed-box to Jform an inner wall therefor when the box is in a vertical position and an outboard guard therefor when said box is in a horizontal position.

2. In combination with a vehicle body, a bed-box associated therewith by a hinge connection adapting ,it to be turned to a vertical position inside of and extending above the side of said vehicle body, and to be turned l to a horizontal position to lie across said side, and Spring-actuated counterbalancing y control connections applied to said bed-box.

3. In combination with a vehicle body, a member hinged thereto and adapted for movement from and to a vertical and a horizontal position; va bed-box carried by and at right angles to said hinged member, whereby through the movement of said member said bed-box may be turned toi a vertical position within the vehicle body and to a horizontal position at right angles to and projecting from said body, and a member hinged to and completely covering said bed-box to form an inner wall therefor when the box is in a vertical position and an outboard guard therefor when said box is in a horizontal position.

4. In combination with a vehicle body, a

(5U/member hinged thereto and adapted for movement from and to a vertical and a horizontal position; a bed-box carried by and at right angles to said hinged member,

whereby through the movement of said member,lsaid bed-box may be turned' to a vertical position within the vehicle body and `to a horizontal position at right angles to and projecting from said body; and springactuated counterbalancing control connections applied to said bed box.

5. In combination with a vehicle body; a member hinged thereto and adapted for movement from and to a vertical and a horizontal position; a bed-box carried by said hinged member with the bottom of said box at right angles to the member; an outer side rail of said bed box extending beyond its bottom and forming with the hinged member a recess beneath the bed-box; and a wardrobe-box hinged to the hinged member and adapted to be housed within and to be dropped out of said recess, the outer face of saidwardrobe box forming a side panel of the vehiclewbody, when the wardrobe box is closed in the recess of the bed-box.

6. In combination with a vehicle body; a member hinged thereto and adapted Jfor movement from and to a vertical and a horizontal position; a bed-box carried by and at right angles to said hinged member whereby through the movement of the member, said bed-box may be turned to a vertical position within the vehicle body Iand to a horizontal position at right angles to. and projecting from said body; and a table leaf hinged to the outer rail of said bed-box.

7. In combination with a vehicle body; a member hinged thereto and adapted for movement Jfrom and to a vertical and a horizontal position; a bed-box carried by box at right angles to the member; an outer side rail of said bedrbox extending beyond its bottom and forming with the hinged member a recess beneath the bed-box; a wardrobe-box hinged to the hinged member and adapted to be housed within and to be dropped out of said recess, the outer face of said wardrobe box forming a side panel of the vehicle body, when the wardrobebox is closed in the recess of the bed-box; and counterbalancing control connectionsv applied to said bed-box. v

8. In combination with a vehicle body, a bed-box having a hinged connection with said body adapting it `to bev-4 turned to a vertical position, within the vehicle body and to a horizontal position extending beyond the side of the vehicle body; and head-- and foot boards hinged to the bed box for folding down therein and for elevation as end closures for the portion of the bedbox proj cting beyond the vehicle body when the box is in a horizontal position.

9. Incombination with the side of a vehicle body and spaced ycanopy postsrising therefrom, a bed-box having a hinged connection with said canopy posts, adapting it to be turned in the space between the canopy posts to a vertical position within the ve- Lemma 5 hicle body and to a horizontal position extending beyond the side of the vehicle body;

head and foot boards hinged to the bed box Aboards for filling in the space between the inner edges ot' the head and foot boards and the canopy posts.

l0. ln combination with a vehicle body, a. bed-box having a hinged connection therewith, adapting it to be turned to and from a. vertical land a horizontal position; and a. panel hinged to the bed box completely covering it when in a vertical position, and adapted to be elevated to serve as an outboard guard when the bed box is in a horizontal position.

ll. ln combination with a vehicle body, abcd-box having a hinged connection with said body adapting it to be turned to a vertical position within the vehicle body and to a horizontal position extending beyond the side of the vehicle body; head and foot boards hinged to the bed box for folding down therein and for elevation as end closures for the portion of the bed-box projecting beyond the vehicle body when the box is in a horizontal position, and a panel hinged to the bed-box Jfor covering it and its folded head and toot boards when in a lvertical position, and adapted to be elevated to serve as an outboard guard when the bed-box is in a horizontal position.

l2. ln combination with a vehicle body7 a bed-box having a hinged connection therewith adapting it to be turned to and from a vertical and a horizontal position; a tablelear" hinged to the outer rail of the bed-box, adapted to be folded down thereon when the bed-box is in a vertical position and to be turned away therefrom when said box is in a horizontal position; and means for supporting said table-leaf when turned away to an angle with the box, to serve as a curtain support to inclose a space beside the vehicle.

13. ln combination with a vehicle body, a bed-box having a hinged connection therewith adapting it to be turned to and from a vertical and a horizontal position; a table leaf hinged to the outer rail of the bed box adapted to be folded down thereon when the bed-box is in a vertical position and to be turned away to extend in line therewith inwardly into the vehicle body; and means -for supporting said table-leaf when so turned inwardly.

let. ln combination with a vehicle body, a bed-box associated therewith by a hinge connection adapting it to be turned to a vertical position inside orP and extending above said vehicle body side, and to be turned to a horizontal position to lie across said body side; lockers on the inside of the vehicle side; and counterbalance devices for said bed-box comprising spring actuated winding drums located in said lockers; and lines connecting said drums with the inner side of the bedbox.

l5. ln combination with the canopy frame and spaced posts of a vehicle body, a bedstructure hinged to the posts for movement therebetween to a vertical stowed position within said body and to a horizontal position for use, extending from said body; awning arms slidably and pivotally mounted in the canopy posts for movement into line with the posts and outwardly therefrom, above the extended bed-structure; an awning-roll mounted in the canopy frame; an awning carried by said roll; and a fastening `device between the free edge of the awning and theouter ends of the extended awning-arms.

16. ln combination with the canopy frame and spaced posts of a vehicle body, ay bedstructure hinged to the vposts for movement therebetween to a vertical stowed position within said body and to a horizontal position for use, extending from said body; awning arms, having at one end trunnions slidably and pivotally fitted in grooves in the posts, whereby said arms may be stowed parallel with the posts and may be extended outwardly therefrom above the extended bed-structure; a cross bar connecting the free ends of said arms; an awning roll mounted in the canopy frame; an awning carried by said roll; a pull bar on the free edge of said awning, having sockets; and studs on the cross bar of the arms engaging the sockets of 'the awning pull bar.

17. ln combinationv with the canopy frame and spaced posts of a vehicle body, a bedstructure hinged to the posts for movement therebetween to a vertical stowed position within said body and to a horizontal position for use, extending from said body; a pair of screen arms connected with the canopy frame in the middle of the space between the posts, by hinges adapting them to be dropped to a vertical position and to be swung outwardly therefrom; means forl connecting the outer ends of said arms with the outer side of the extended bed structure; spring rolls mounted in the canopy frame; and screens on said rolls adapted to be drawn down and to be guided by said arms and bed structure to lie above the latter.

18. ln combination with the canopy frame and spaced posts of a vehicle'body, a bedstructure hinged to the posts for movement therebetween to a vertical stowed position within said body and to a horizontal position for use, extending from said body; said bed-structure having head and foot boards and an outer guard panel; a pair of grooved screen arms, connected with the canopy frame in the middle `of the space between the posts, by hingesadapting them to be dropped to a vertical position and to be swung outwardly therefrom; means for connecting the outer ends of said arnis with the outer guard panel of the bed-structure; spring rolls mounted in the canopy frame; channeled guides carried by the top edges of the head and foot boards of the bed-structure; and screens on said rolls adapted to be drawn down in the grooves of the arms and the guides of the head and foot boards, to lie` above the 'bed structure.

- In testimony whereof I havel signed my 15 name to this specification in the presence ol" two subscribing witnesses.

HOUGHTON SAWYER. Witnesses:

WM. F. BOOTH,

D. B. RICHARDS. 

